Litespeed F3: Mixed results at Spa

As much as Spa-Francorchamps is an undulating circuit, so too were the fortunes of Litespeed F3 at the Belgian (7th) stage of the 2009 Cooper Tires British F3 International Series.

Free practice on Thursday saw Litespeed’s R1, driven by Victor , out-pacing the other National cars and Jay Bridger finding himself in a respectable 8th place in his Mygale. Qualifying would prove trickier with the drivers positioned in 21st (3rd in National) and 14th for race 1 and 20th (3rd in National) and 10th for race 2, respectively.

Race 1 would see Corrêa back on the Spa podium, a place he visited last year when he came 3rd in Formula Ford. This year he would go one better, achieving 2nd place after a solid and level-headed drive. Bridger had an equally sound afternoon, finishing 9th overall.

Saturday’s race was to be dramatic with the weather not seeming to be in control of its senses …… wet, dry, extremely wet and so it went on. Whilst Spa is notoriously challenging, this of course threw an extra element into the mix. Whilst many appeared to have trouble with the ever-changing conditions, Bridger appeared unfazed, which culminated in a slick over-taking manoeuvre on Wayne Boyd at Les Combes. But fortune was not to be on Jay’s side and by lap 5 he was losing pace He eventually coasted to a halt at Eau Rouge with a broken drive joint.

Victor’s afternoon had its own twists of fate, especially each time the heavens opened. A usually skilled driver in the wet, Corrêa had been on the pace all race until he was caught out by the conditions and ended up deep in the gravel with only a few laps left.

‘Whilst it might have been a mixed weekend for Litespeed’s first foray on Belgian soil, it was none the less full of excitement and we have come away with data that is invaluable,’ said Steve Kenchington, Director of Engineering, Litespeed F3.